South Korea in Depth

1 country3 UNESCO World Heritage-listed sitesSpecial departure: Experience the magic of Cherry Blossom (Mar / Apr) or witness stunning Autumn Colours (Oct / Nov)Spring Cherry Blossom & Autumn ColoursExperience the magic of South Korea's Cherry Blossom (Mar / Apr departures) or witness stunning Autumn Colours as they sweep the country (Oct departures).Hurry, book now! Seats are limited!The 'Land of the Morning Calm', South Korea has become a melting pot of modernity and tradition. From the elegant skyscrapers and ancient palaces of bustling Seoul, to tea ceremonies and martial arts, experience the beautiful contrasts between old and new on this in-depth journey.TAKE A PEEK INTO DIFFERENT WORLDSOn this journey we'll visit the Demilitarised Zone that separates North and South Korea, and peek across the border into communist Kijongdong. In Jeonju, experience a traditional Hanok village that retains its historical charms and culture, despite the industrialisation of the rest of the city.NATURAL BEAUTYWe head to Mt Seorak and explore Nami Island famous for its stunning scenery, travel by cable car to Gwongumseong fortress and explore some remarkable Zen temples dating back over a thousand years.THE MORNING CALMYou'll also experience a traditional tea ceremony with the monks at Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto and get to relax in a traditional Korean spa - a very important part of the Korean way of life.Imagine your KoreaThe Visit Korea website is a great resource for anyone visiting South Korea.Click here to view the website.

Inclusions

Travel

Economy-class flights from Australia to South Korea. Taxes included

1 rail journey in South Korea

Airport transfers on the first and last day of tour (if using group tour flights)

All touring in air-conditioned vehicles

Tipping Made Easy, $120pp pre-paid

Accommodation & Meals

11 nights in good quality hotels (4-5 star)

11 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners including group welcome and farewell dinners

Tour Guides

English-speaking locally based national guide throughout

Porterage

Porterage included where available

Sightseeing

Urban metropolis

Visit a Korean Folk Village in Seoul including participating in a Korean traditional archery experience.

Explore Insadong Street and its multitude of alleys with tea shops, cafes and galleries.

Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty built in 1395.

Explore scenic Igidae Park and the Oryukdo Skywalk - a glass bridge stretching out over the ocean.

Pay tribute to the UN soldiers and aids killed during the Korean War 1950-1953, during a sobering stop at the UN Memorial Cemetery.

Travel to Seoul from Busan via bullet train.

Korean cuisine, clothing and arts

Learn the art of making Kimchi, Korea's national dish, and try on a hanbok (traditional Korean dress).

Enjoy a nanta show - a non-verbal comedy show and popular way to spend an evening in South Korea.

Peer into North Korea

Visit the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea, including Freedom Bridge, Dora Observatory and 3rd Infiltration Tunnel.

Tour Provider

Bunnik Tours

Number of Days

14

Price From

AUD $6,705

Start Location

South Korea

End Location

South Korea

Age Range

Avg. 50+

Group Size

8 to 20

Tour Style

Comfort

Tour Themes

Festival, Slow paced

Physical Rating

Moderate

Incudes Flights

Yes

Tour departure dates

Start

End

Availability

Price

09 Mar 2019

22 Mar 2019

Guaranteed Departure

AUD $6,360

15 Mar 2019

28 Mar 2019

Guaranteed Departure

AUD $6,360

03 Apr 2019

16 Apr 2019

Available

AUD $6,450

01 May 2019

14 May 2019

Available

AUD $6,450

09 Oct 2019

22 Oct 2019

Available

AUD $6,450

19 Oct 2019

01 Nov 2019

Available

AUD $6,450

26 Oct 2019

08 Nov 2019

Available

AUD $6,450

07 Mar 2020

20 Mar 2020

Available

AUD $6,450

11 Mar 2020

24 Mar 2020

Available

AUD $6,450

18 Mar 2020

31 Mar 2020

Available

AUD $6,450

25 Mar 2020

07 Apr 2020

Available

AUD $6,450

ItineraryExpand

Itinerary

Abbreviation: [B,L,D] Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 1. Depart Australia

Day 2. Arrive in Seoul

Welcome to Seoul, the capital of South Korea. This buzzing and vibrant city is a beautiful juxtaposition of modern and traditional, where towering skyscrapers neighbour temples and palaces from centuries ago. Enjoy a group welcome dinner tonight. [D]

Day 3. Seoul

Stepping back in time, we visit the Korean Folk Village to gain an insight into life during the Joseon Dynasty and enjoy a natural colour dyeing experience. After some free time for lunch along famous Insadong Street, we'll visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, a collection of museums and historical sites. Surrounded by gardens and ancient stone pagodas, these buildings are home to some of Korea's best treasures. Later this afternoon we visit the iconic N Seoul Tower and admire the views from the observation deck. [B]

Day 4. Seoul - Mt Seorak

This morning we travel to the tiny half-moon-shaped Nami Island, famous for its stunning scenery and open, grassy fields where ducks, chipmunks, squirrels and peacocks welcome visitors. We'll then continue to Sokcho in Mount Seorak. [B]

Day 5. Mt. Seorak

Special Experience: Spend a full day exploring stunning Mount Seorak, visiting Sogongwon Park and travelling to Gwongumseong Fortress by cable car. The views on the way are breathtaking, as we'll see the ruins of the fortress, the treetops of the Sogongwon area and the imposing Ulsanbawi Rock to the north.

We'll visit Sinheungsa Temple, believed to be the oldest Zen temple in the world. It is recognisable by its Great Unification Buddha statue made out of gilt-bronze that represents the crucial wish of the Korean people for the reunification of the divided country. [B]

Day 6. Mt Seorak - Jeonju

Departing Mt Seorak, we continue to Jeonju via Pyeongchang, where we visit Naksansa Temple. This afternoon we'll arrive in Jeonju and visit the Bukchon Hanok Village, a community of more than 800 traditional hanok houses. These houses are generally divided into 2 sections - the Anchae for women and the Sarangchae for men. [B]

Day 7. Jeonju - Muju

We continue towards Muju, visiting beautiful Mount Maisan and the Buddhist Tapsa Temple along the way. This temple complex is constructed entirely from stones, making for a very unusual, but very impressive appearance. [B]

Special Experience: Relax and enjoy a traditional Korean spa, a very important part of the Korean way of life. Try the unique assortment of facilities and treatments, including 'bubble sense therapy' and 'sound floating'.

Day 8. Muju - Gyeongju

Special Experience: Learn all about Korea's traditional martial art, taekwondo, and witness an amazing demonstration.

This afternoon we'll travel to Mt Gayasan and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Haeinsa Temple. It's one of the Three Jewel Temples representing Buddha's teachings, and home to the Tripitaka Koreana - a complete set of Buddhist scriptures engraved on more than 81,000 wooden printing blocks between 1237 and 1248. [B]

Day 9. Gyeongju - Busan

Special Experience: Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites of Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto this morning, where we'll experience a traditional tea ceremony with monks. Bulguksa Temple contains seven of the National Treasures of South Korea, including two pagodas and statues of Buddha.

We'll explore Chomsungdae Observatory, which dates back to the 7th century, and visit Chonma Royal Tumuli. [B]

Day 10. Busan

We begin our sightseeing of Busan at scenic Igidae Park, where we'll wander along the trails and admire the rugged natural scenery. We'll also visit the Oryukdo Skywalk, a glass bridge stretching over the ocean at the dividing point between the East and South Seas. Our next stop is the UN Memorial Cemetery, before lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we'll visit the local markets and have some free time to explore. [B,L]

Day 11. Busan - Seoul

This morning we board the high-speed train to Seoul. In the afternoon we'll step into the kitchen and learn to make Korea's national dish - the spicy-sour side dish, kimchi. We'll also get a chance to try on the hanbok (traditional Korean dress). [B]

Special Experience: Enjoy a nanta show - a non-verbal comedy show, and a very popular way to spend an evening in South Korea.

Day 12. Seoul

Today we visit the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) separating North and South Korea. Take a peek into North Korea from the Dora Observatory and stop at Dorasan Station and Freedom Bridge. We'll also take a tour of the Third Infiltration Tunnel by monorail. The afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace back in Seoul. Tonight we'll enjoy a group farewell dinner, accompanied by a traditional Korean performance. [B,D]

Day 13. Depart Seoul

Today we begin our journey home. [B]

Day 14. Arrive in Australia

Level of fitness: This tour features 2+ hours of walking, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity on 1 or more days.